Peter Obi Criticizes Adamawa LG Chairmen For Sponsoring Wives To Turkey

Peter Obi, a former Labour Party presidential candidate, has criticised local government chairmen in Adamawa State for funding trips to Turkey for their wives under the pretext of leadership training.

Last week, the wives of 21 Adamawa LGA chairmen, along with senior officials from the state’s Ministry of Local Government, reportedly went to Istanbul to participate in the programme.

Suleiman Toungo, chairman of Toungo LGA and head of Adamawa’s chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), said the training was meant to give their spouses leadership skills.

He added that since the chairmen themselves had received training, their wives also needed similar exposure to “offer useful advice on governance”.

Reacting on Saturday via his X, formerly known as Twitter, Peter Obi called the trip a waste of public funds

The former Anambra State governor noted that the roughly ₦600 million spent could have been used to improve basic education, build classrooms, or support women-led businesses in the state.

He highlighted the irony of the situation, pointing out that children in basic schools lack classrooms and teachers, pensioners may be owed, and teachers face economic struggles, yet resources are being spent on trips for people who do not hold public office.

“I have just read the disturbing report that the wives of 21 local government chairmen in Adamawa State were sponsored with public funds to travel to Turkey under the guise of leadership training,” the post reads.

“Today, while our children at the basic education level — whose education is the responsibility of local governments—are out of school, and those in school lack classrooms and teachers, while LGA pensioners are likely owed, and teachers continue to struggle under economic hardship, it is disheartening that scarce resources are channelled into frivolities such as foreign trips for the wives of local government chairmen who hold no public office, at an estimated cost of about ₦600 million in public funds.”

Obi also acknowledged the efforts of Adamawa Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, especially in improving infrastructure in Yola, but stressed that the state still needs investment in education, healthcare, and poverty reduction.

He wrote, “While I sincerely commend Governor Fintiri and his team for their efforts, especially in the area of infrastructure in Yola, Adamawa still remains one of the states in urgent need of investment in critical sectors such as education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation.

“Such money, if directed at women micro-credit at an average of ₦100,000 each for women-led micro businesses, would uplift 6,000 women—about 300 women in each LGA—which would be far more impactful than this wasteful spending.

“Basic education in particular cannot afford to lose such a huge amount, as the over half-a-billion naira in question could have funded about 30 blocks of six classrooms at an average cost of ₦20 million each, directly impacting the lives of countless children and communities.

“We must return to prudent, people-oriented governance. Local government funds belong to the people: the market woman, the farmer, the teacher, the pensioner, and every ordinary Nigerian who depends on government for basic amenities.

“Anything short of that is an abuse of office and should not be condoned; this is not only a glaring case of waste but a mockery of the very essence of governance.”